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I find it helps knowing that you're not alone with these feelings, particularly when people say that they know what those feelings are like.
Depression can be very isolating, even if you have lots of people around you, so knowing that there are others who share those experiences is comforting. (Even though you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy!)
It is, after all, an illness like any other!

I've had depression for many years, more of my life than not. It's an up and down, sometimes dormant for a long time and then it flares up.
I've found, it helps to be honest. Sometimes my character can be quite Jekyll and Hyde, and I truly can't help it. I always apologise immediately and I have found that sending people the Black Dog video helps them understand why I am sometimes the way I am. I don't hide it, there's no shame. Recently I have succumbed to a major low and have found everyone around me to be so incredibly supportive. I feel lonely, I feel isolated but I've never felt like I can't express that.
So talk to people, if you don't want to go out much invest in a television package and a good sofa, buy a good bed to sleep well and most importantly, have a goal a day. Mine is just going out to get a coffee and sit reading a newspaper in the coffee shop on a Sunday, or even just going for a long country walk on a Saturday.

I'm the same, I can run a few errands, talk to different people and engage in light, brief conversation and then run home, unable to continue the act any longer. The pretence is exhausting.

If I'm having a bad day, nobody sees me, I make sure of that.

Today I motivate myself to go for a ride on my motorbike (the last personal pleasure I have left) but before I even got on it I tripped and took a heavy fall. That was my day finished, I know better than to try anything after that.

I'm the same, I can run a few errands, talk to different people and engage in light, brief conversation and then run home, unable to continue the act any longer. The pretence is exhausting.

If I'm having a bad day, nobody sees me, I make sure of that.

Today I motivate myself to go for a ride on my motorbike (the last personal pleasure I have left) but before I even got on it I tripped and took a heavy fall. That was my day finished, I know better than to try anything after that.

Makes sense - in the process of being dismissed on capability grounds (stress related), and frequently used to wake up at exactly 3 am, couldn't sleep so used to get up, get exhausted .... that round robin. A lot better now on medication, but still don't open letters for days on end, just let things go really.

However, I am confident that things WILL get better, and as other posters have already mentioned walking or being outside in the sun can help change your outlook. I enjoy dropping Mrs. Sleazy off at work, going into town for a coffee and just chilling out for an hour or so. That's about as 'normal' as I can get at the moment. Doctor hopes that at some time in the future I may be able to work part-time, but currently signed off indefinitely....

It is very hard for people close to you, and I can understand how they can get despondent and maybe even lose patience. I'm not sure what the answer is to that except to try to make sure that they are as knowledgeable as possible about the condition.

Perhaps also things like attending the doctor together, counselling sessions together, going to help groups together, so that they can see it isn't the sufferer 'deliberately' choosing to remain in a depressed state.

I keep making the analogy with physical illnesses because that is such an easy way for non-sufferers to understand part of the problem........

....If you had a broken leg that prevented you from working, that would be completely understandable to everyone. A 'broken' mind is equally debilitating, yet not nearly so easily mended.

Or, if you had flu, you would feel too ill to talk, or even to read a book or watch TV. 'Flu of the brain', ie Depression, is like that too.

If you are able to, a tiny bit of compromise might smooth the way with your partner. For example, if they want you to go shopping with them, and that puts the fear of God into you, what about, firstly explaining that, but then saying how about if you go for half an hour, and if it is getting too much, you go and have a quiet coffee and a sit, say for another half hour, until your partner joins you?
Something like that?

Small steps, you see. Showing willing, even when feeling like the proverbial s**t.
It will be exhausting, I know. And if you are feeling very bad, it might not be possible.

So so true. The only people that actually know I suffer from depression are my OH and my siblings. Even my parents don't know. If I am really down I don't go and visit them.

I was working somewhere with about 20 other people and one day they started talking about depression. I said that I suffered and they all looked amazed, a couple laughed and one literally accused me of being a liar (I think they thought I was just seeking attention). I had worked with them for about 5 years at the time and yet not one of them had a clue that I suffered.

The world is over 4 billion years old and yet you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie

Depression is a very weird thing. When I was younger, depression and anxiety used to drive me forward career and health wise. I was awkward around girls and literally had no friends, so I worked to jobs so that way I was at least richer than my peers. I also used to go gym so I would be in shape when I did meet that girl.

Then something weird happened. I started making friends. Met a beautiful girl who ended up being my wife. I had dreams of earning £25k a year, now I earn £50k. Never thought I would own my own home, now I have 2 bedrooms and a garden. Everything I dreamt about, things I genuinely thought was not possible, have all come. However, the anxiety that drove me is gone but the depression remains. I simply don't care.

I wake up everyday and I can't be bothered to work, and not worried at all about the consequences of not being so. I count the weeks left where my insurance policy will pay out for suicide. Waste my whole day daydreaming and staring out the window.

I can't figure out what it is that will get me back on track. What I can do to get my mojo back. Sadly, it could just be a chemical thing that I have little to no control of.

Pretty much. You tell your GP about the symptoms you're experiencing (you can bring a written list if you're worried you might get emotional during the appointment) and they ask you some questions and possibly give you the PHQ. They may prescribe medication and/or refer you to some form of therapy. GPs see this very commonly and they're used to diagnosing and treating depression.

Please do tell them if you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide - it's a significant symptom.

Another similar question. Does getting treatment for mental issues have any repercussions I should consider? Is it something I may have to declare on a job application form? I pretty sure you will have to do it with life insurance, would this make the cost sky rocket?

Depends on your area...it could be a year long waiting list...and then the referrals are cancelled...for the next few years. Or they could just keep piling on different antidepressants for the next 40 years.

The worst part of depression for me - would be waking up in the morning, not having the motivation to do anything. A no care attitude towards life itself. I know an excellent place to chat for depression sufferers. If you are interested. I'll send it to you in a private message. It's open 24/7 with a safe, friendly community.☺

Another similar question. Does getting treatment for mental issues have any repercussions I should consider? Is it something I may have to declare on a job application form? I pretty sure you will have to do it with life insurance, would this make the cost sky rocket?

Hi Andrew, I was thinking of fostering but did not go ahead as thought with depression and medication I would not be considered. Holiday insurance goes up a bit, I don't have/need life insurance, get it with my work. I did get counselling and it did nothing for me. There is a web site, moodjuice, which may give you help, it is a national health site and different areas have different web addresses so just google it.

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